With the last active case of Covid-19 in New Zealand declared cured and no new cases detected for 17 days, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern yesterday gave the country the news it was waiting for and announced a move to Alert Level 1.
Southern businesses greeted the news with relief, and enthusiasm that they would be able to operate at full capacity again.
For Jacqueline and David Burt, owners of Dunedin restaurant Bracken, the shift to Alert Level 1 almost doubles the seating of their small family-owned restaurant.
"It’s a massive assistance. Hopefully, people are ready to go out again," Ms Burt said.
Bracken was closed for seven weeks during Covid-19 lockdown, and open at 60% capacity during Alert Level 2.
Its staff had retained their jobs, although for now its usual degustation offering had been replaced by an a la carte menu.
Winter was a slow time for restaurants, but trade was about 50% below normal last weekend, Ms Burt said.
"Hopefully, we will be full this weekend — wouldn’t that be exciting? Here’s hoping."
Mike McLeod, operator of Dunedin live music venue the Captain Cook, said he had been happy to wait out Alert Levels 4, 3 and 2, but was delighted to be able to host bands again at Level 1.
"We don’t have a whole lot of gigs booked because obviously not many people have been actively booking gigs, but we are probably reopening the weekend after next ... we are ready to roll again now."
Queenstown’s Mike Burgess, owner of popular venues Winnies, Ballarat, Frankton Arm Tavern, and one of the resort's ice bars, said the move to Alert Level 1 was great.
"We are heavily reliant on international tourism, but the fact we are now at level 1, at least those visitors that do come to Queenstown, we will be able to entertain in the way that we are used to.
"I would think it absolutely improves the offering and goes back to somewhat normality for the customer at least."
With no restrictions on gatherings, workplaces, shops, cafes and businesses across the region will be able to operate without queues and single servers.
There are no limitations of numbers at private events, and public transport now operates without restriction.
Social distancing will still be encouraged and people have been urged to keep a record of their movements for contact tracing purposes, but otherwise life will return more or less to normal.
However, New Zealand’s borders remain under tight control. Ms Ardern warned strict surveillance of people arriving in the country would be crucial to maintaining Alert Level 1.
Otago Southland Employers Association chief executive Virginia Nicholls welcomed the move to Alert Level 1 and the return to more normal practices at workplaces.
"This will remove the extra costs of operating at Alert Level 2, which have been tough on many businesses,'' she said.
She said all workers needed to get back to the office as that would also help businesses in towns and cities.
"We all need to support our local businesses who are back operating, to help them to begin to restore the confidence of our business community.''
Although pleased to deliver the Level 1 news, Ms Ardern cautioned the fight against Covid-19 was not over.
"We will almost certainly see cases here again, but when that occurs it will not mean we have failed.
"It is the reality of this virus. We must be and we are prepared for future cases."
In Otago and Southland, once the hot spot of New Zealand’s Covid-19 outbreak, WellSouth remained prepared for any reappearance of Covid-19.
Covid-19 testing stations will close in Dunedin and Invercargill on Thursday, although Invercargill’s station will open on weekend mornings.
GPs will continue to test for the disease, and WellSouth’s 0800 call centre will remain open.
WellSouth chief executive Andrew Swanson-Dobbs said doctor surgeries could now open fully and screening programmes would resume.
"Many practices will continue to provide virtual or telehealth appointments but in-person appointments are available as before."
The Southern District Health Board will continue to restrict visiting hours to 2pm-6pm at both Dunedin and Southland hospitals.
"Patients who have appointments at our hospitals are asked not to come in if they are unwell."
Councils across the region today prepared to reopen all their facilities.
Invercargill City Council deputy mayor Toni Biddle said people should be proud of one another for managing the outbreak of Covid-19 and encouraged those who could to shop locally.
"It is now critical to see people and businesses returning to work with confidence.
"We have seen local businesses forced to lay off valued staff or close their doors. This has been devastating for our community and those wider whanau affected."
Dunedin City Council said free parking, so long as time limits were not exceeded, would continue until July 1.
Other council services will be back to normal by June 9. — Additional reporting Jacob McSweeny, Matthew McKew, Laura Smith
